Dipping a toe in Wales
Urk!!! I cannot believe I fly to Paris next week!!! I haven't even started to think about what I am going to pack which is most unlike me. I've usually made a preliminary list at least 2 weeks in advance, but this time I haven't got a clue what's appropriate having lost the ability to dress for Summer in Northern Europe. I only know how to dress for Summer in sticky, hot, humid, stinky New York - can you tell Summer is my least favorite season in NYC? I'm sorry, but it smells of hot garbage and dog urine, it really isn't the most pleasant season in the city. Melissa and I will only be in Paris for a couple of days, after that we take the Eurostar to London for 2 days, followed by a day in Wales - as is Melissa's want - and then onto Yorkshire to see my family.
"Wales??" Exclaimed my mother in a tone people usually employ when they find out about a rat infestation. "Why does Melissa want to go to Wales?"
It should be noted that my parents do not consider a vacation to be worth taking if it does not include a guaranteed daily temperature of at least 80F and a golden sandy beach.
"Mother, Wales is chock full of natural beauty. Have you seen the Brecon Beacons?"
Heathen!!
Actually the primary reason Melissa wants to go to Wales is to check it off her list of countries to get her closer to membership of the Traveler's Century Club. She's well on her way with a country tally somewhere in the mid-60s. Mine - and note that among the majority of my friends I am considered well traveled - is a piffling 25 or thereabouts.
I had nothing against visiting Wales, afterall Tenby was the site of many a happy childhood vacation, however I wasn't exactly filled with joy at spending hours on a train to get there, but then research led me to Abergavenny, a market town in Monmouthshire that's a mere 6-miles from the English border*. Not only is Abergavenny only 2 and a half hours from London it also boasts a boutique hotel and not one, but two Michelin starred restaurants. Abergavenney sounds like my kind of market town.
*"Not Welsh enough" claimed Debs' Welsh born husband.
I had nothing against visiting Wales, afterall Tenby was the site of many a happy childhood vacation, however I wasn't exactly filled with joy at spending hours on a train to get there, but then research led me to Abergavenny, a market town in Monmouthshire that's a mere 6-miles from the English border*. Not only is Abergavenny only 2 and a half hours from London it also boasts a boutique hotel and not one, but two Michelin starred restaurants. Abergavenney sounds like my kind of market town.
*"Not Welsh enough" claimed Debs' Welsh born husband.
3 comments:
OHHHHHHH...ENJOY the tripppp then! :-D I've never been to Paris, but we'd love to go there someday.
Gee...60+ countries? My goodness!!! 25 is already quite an amount for me, but 60+ is just...WOW!
P.S. I understand what you mean about not liking a sticky and humid summer. It's dry over here, but in Indo when it's hot, it's sticky and humid. Ewwww...and we have no air-con...ewwww...he he he he...
Oh, I mean no aircon in my parents' place he he...
Paris is wonderful, I really love it, you should definitely plan to go sometime.
It's 90F in New York today and incredibly humid. On Tuesday night temperatures were in the 50s. The atmospheric roller coaster is giving me headaches :-(
Post a Comment